Someone accusingly says that I, Nichiren, established a coarse doctrine highhandedly without considering the capacity of people to understand, resulting in persecutions.

Others say that what is preached in the thirteenth chapter on the “Encouragement for Upholding This Sūtra” of the Lotus Sūtra about practicers of the Lotus Sūtra encountering difficulties without fail is applicable to bodhisattvas on a high grade. A low-grade practicer like Nichiren, they maintain, ought to practice the tolerant way preached in the fourteenth chapter on the “Peaceful Practices” of the Lotus Sūtra, but he fails to follow it.

Still others say that I know it in principle but dare not speak out.

Some people say that Nichiren stresses only the theoretical study, neglecting the practice of meditation, and I have been fully aware of their criticisms.

Pien-ch’u, a loyal subject of King Wu in ancient China, had both his legs amputated. In Japan, Wake no Kiyomaro, who blocked Priest Dōkyō’s usurpation attempt, was renamed Kegaremaro (Defiled-man) and was about to be executed. Those who laughed at them were all forgotten while Pien-ch’u and Kiyomaro are still remembered by the people. Those who condemn me, Nichiren, would be the same as those who laughed at Pien-ch’u and Kiyomaro.

Teradomari Gosho, A Letter from Teradomari, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 12-13